Existing HOV lanes in North Texas likely to remain free for vehicles for two or more occupants

Commuters on Dallas-Fort Worth’s myriad HOV lanes can now drive at ease: the express lanes on I-35E, North Central Expressway and other area highways will likely remain free for vehicles with two or more occupants for the foreseeable future.

That’s the latest recommendation from the North Central Texas Council of Governments’ transportation staff, as they work to integrate the existing HOV system with the tolled managed lanes going live next year on parts of the LBJ and DFW Connector projects.

And while the status quo will mostly remain for current HOV commuters — pending approval from the group’s transportation council on Nov. 8 — officials are also supporting a set-up in which single-occupancy vehicles can pay a fee to use those existing lanes when there’s excess capacity.

“What we are offering now responds to the best compromise, given all the comments that we heard,” Dan Lamers, a senior project manager at the Council of Governments, said Wednesday at a presentation in Arlington.

And even public officials, such as Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins, acknowledged that it might be unfair to take something that’s been historically free and slap a price tag on it.

The conflict stemmed from the new, managed lanes being built — in addition to free lanes — on LBJ and elsewhere as a way to secure funding for transportation expansion projects.

On those highways, all motorists will pay a variable fee to use the lanes, depending on how many others are joining them on the fast track. Three-plus vehicles will get a 50 percent discount.

And per plans that will need to be reaffirmed at the November meeting, there will be rebates to managed lane drivers if average speeds drop below 35 mph for reasons other than accidents or weather.

But how to make the managed lanes jibe with the existing HOV lanes, where all vehicles with two or more occupants ride for free?

“This is the dilemma we have: two systems operating very close together,” Lamers said Wednesday. “They are going to seem similar, but there are very distinct differences.”

Officials looked at several options: making the traditional express lanes free for only three-plus vehicles, doing that but grandfathering in current two-plus vehicles or keeping things mostly the same.

And the council’s transportation staff ultimately settled on latter.

But in an effort to also best utilize any extra capacity on the existing HOV lanes, they are moving forward with a recommendation to allow single-occupancy motorists to pay a set toll rate to use the express lanes when there’s space.

And that could mean a few changes:

1) All HOV users, including those riding for free, will need to have a toll tag.
2) Specifics are still being worked out, but to avoid paying the fee, two-plus HOV users will have to register online as such a vehicle.
3) There will be additional enforcement, as well as speed monitoring, to make sure tolls are paid and that single-occupancy vehicles don’t slow down traffic.

Lamers said the setup, if approved next month, would require a hefty education campaign to inform drivers of the differences between the traditional HOV lanes and the forthcoming managed lanes. But he said the proposed option was likely the best solution to reward longtime HOV users.

“Those are loyal HOV users who’ve helped us over the years with our mobility and air quality problems,” he said. “It seems unfair to kick them out.”

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Transportation writer Brandon Formby and editorial writer Rodger Jones cover the subject from tollways to traffic, roads to rail. They invite tips and feedback from decision-makers and commuters alike.